Sex Pistols’ John Lydon admits completing housework while taking care of his late wife Nora Forster inspired his new album
John Lydon has revealed that his new album was inspired by housework while taking care of his late wife Nora.
The singer – known as Johnny Rotten – confessed that becoming a carer and doing daily chores for his late wife Nora Forster during her battle with Alzheimer’s helped him get back on track with his band Public Image Ltd.
He told The Sunday Emphatically: ‘ As a 24/7 caretaker for Nora, sometimes I was vacuuming and thinking about a song. I always sang it out loud and Nora found this very entertaining.
“So a lot of these songs are musically put together in my head by dishwashers, washing machines, carpet cleaners, all of this. You can find a rhythm in everything mechanical.’
John, 67, claimed that cleaning the time spent caring for his beloved wife Nora – who sadly passed away three months ago aged 80 after a two-year battle with dementia – helped him through the darkest days.
Inspired: Punk legend John Lydon recently admitted his new album was inspired by doing housework while taking care of his late wife Nora
He said, “By doing the housework, she thought I was busy with other subjects and not swelled in self-pity.”
He continued, “My baby was an independent person and wouldn’t like to be spoiled. That would really annoy her.’
The punk legend became his wife’s full-time caregiver after she was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2021.
And last week, John admitted to drinking “non-stop” for three months after the death of his beloved wife Nora Forster.
In a new podcast this week, he candidly talked about how he deals with his grief.
He told how he tried to ‘push away his sadness’ with alcohol, but now the tide is trying to turn.
He told the XS Noize Podcast, “I’m getting fit. There was a three month period of non-stop drinking there. Pushing the sadness away didn’t help and I stopped.
‘That was hell. When Nora is around and looking at me, the last thing she wants to see is me crying into a bottle of whiskey.
Late wife: The singer – known as Johnny Rotten – confessed to helping become a caregiver and do chores for his late wife Nora during her battle with Alzheimer’s
“I have given life as a gift and I certainly do not intend to take my own life. I am usually alone.
‘On weekends my brother, his wife and children and noisy dogs come over. I have to get mentally fit, because my family consisted not only of Nora, but also of the audience that comes to see PiL.’
John is preparing to tour with his band following the release of new album End of World.
He added, “My baby will be with me, that’s all I need to know.”
Speaking of caring for Nora, he also said, “I loved taking care of her and making her days better. It was the most fun we’ve ever had and it kept her alert.’